Novak Djokovic hits beautiful cross-court lob to take control of year-end final against Rafael Nadal

The year-end match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal was a relative disappointment, with the world No. 1 off his game and Djokovic easily winning in straight sets. For the past five years, tennis fans have been spoiled by the thrilling matches played by Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and others. Occasionally, we get a reminder that every meeting can’t be a classic.

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t some memorable moments in the final ATP match of the year, most notably on the break point that blew open the first set. Djokovic ran cross-court to get to a Nadal volley and stabbed at a lob that went back across the court and landed in the perfect spot. He could have hit the shot 100 more times and not placed it any better. It speaks to Nadal’s defensive prowess that he was able to continue the point after Djokovic’s lob.

When the point anticlimactically ended (as many others would during the match), Djokovic unleashed a guttural roar. Nadal got the best of him at the French Open, U.S. Open and in the year-end ATP rankings, but after winning that point, both Djokovic and Nadal seemed to know who would win the 2013 finale.

Novak Djokovic hits beautiful cross-court lob to take control of year-end final against Rafael Nadal

The world No. 2 got the best of the world No. 1 on Monday.

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